Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1887-12-21
"LABBYs AT HOME.
AN HOUR WITH THE EDITOR OF
LoNDoN,S FAMOUS WEEKLY.

IoNooN'S FAMOUS WEEKLY.
A Visit to Mr.. Henry Labouchere-Pen
Pictures of the Noted Journalist-Daily
Papers Of I.ondon-The Marvellous Suc-
cess OF Truth"
Mr.. Henry Labouchere is one of the most
interesting characters of our time. A SCION
Of good family and independent means, he
started out on diplomatic career, and very
early in life got behind the scenes and learned
how the nations of the earth are misgoV-
erned. Then he went here, there and thither
until he brought up in Paris, where he vol
UNFAIRLY remained through the famous siege
of that city, during which time he contrib
uted TO The Daily News those famous letters
setting forth the experiences of the "Besieged
Resident
IL is understood that Mr.. Labouchere holds
q controlling interest in this paper, winch is
the leading Liberal organ, but OF course ne Is
more widely known as the man who made
Truth, that famous periodical which initiated
personal Journalism and put the great Il" in
place of the editorial "wen Mr.. Labouchere
is in parliament for Northampton, having
for bis colleague Bradlaugh, the atheist Mr.
Labouchere has given and taken plenty OF
hard hitting in his time. He is radical IN the
extreme, and yet for all he is one OF the
Prince of Wales set, that coterie OF good Eel
lows who serve to amuse the fat man who
possibly may succeed TO the present queen
and empress who has Just held her jubilee.
Mr.. Laboucheres country house is built on
the site of Pope's villa, at Twickenham, and
the grounds front on the silver Thames for
some 800 feet There are terraces, rookerles
and a grotto or tunnel decked with some
rather inferior statuary, which is a relic OF
the original villa once occupied by the author
of "Dunciad" and now the abode OF his
natural successor, pursuant to the fashion OF
the day.
PEN PICTURE OF "LABBY."
l sent my card up in the afternoon, but
Mr. Labouchere was out, so my punt was
moorel in front of his water wall until a
trim maid notified me that her master was at
home and at leisure Then | landed at the
boat house, climbed some old wooden steps,
ut the top of which was greeted by big
black retriever and pretty little child, who
I.abouchere awaited me on the gallery
This veranda is very pretty; it is about
by 10 feet, completely arched in by foliage,
while through three large logic of alcoves
you look over the river and the low country
on the other side. Three or four wicker
chairs and footsuools lay around. In one Of
these sat somewhat understood man with
cropped beard just beginning TO grizzle. He
was dressed in rough suit of tweed, and the
disposition of plain gold chain showed that
he carried his watch in an outside pocket.
He was putting cigarette held in plain
wooden holder, worth perhaps four cents,
and il may be interesting for some to know
that he wore a pair of elastic side boots very
much the worse for wear. He is a quiet
looking little man, with come what-willI-
am-content air about him, freedom Of
thought and language very uncommon in the
Old World, and withal one could perceive
under the quiet ease of his manner the spirit
Of one who could hold fast and hit hard
Most men have their counterpart in the ami
NAL world, and Henry Labouchere strikingly
reminds me Of q chunky, well bred fox ter
rier that hooks too lazy for anything as he
lies in tbs sun, but can show lots of character
whenever any Of his natural foes chance in
his way He has the same sideways set of
the head that Valet or Ra5y Mixer show
when interested.
We got chatting about one thing and an
other until the stated objects Of our interview
were touched upon. Mr.. Labouchere was OF
opinion that civil servant should be allowed
all fair political rights, provided the exercise
mt until tb..I .bo,-f
Of bis official duties, but where or how to
draw the line, he declared, was a difficult
matter. ''In theory with us every civil ser
want is free to act as he chooses, ~ said he, and
then, with exquisite simplicity, added: but
somehow or other if q man works hard fol-
his party and doesn't win he doesn't get OF
very we'll, in fact not at all"
JOURNALISM IN GENERAL
Wegot talking about journalism in gen
ersl He said:
THE one great difficulty of the daily
papers in London is the absence of any sys
tenn of distribution outside that of the Smith
monopoly. So long as Sunday is strictly OBJ
served there will be no Sunday edition of tn,
great dailies, because they could not get riC
Of them when they were printed"
l touched on signed Journalism when 1
man gets the credit of his work, and Mr. La
bouchere, as newspaper proprietor, said hi
didn't want to make q man and then hay,
that man own his maker.
He further said: THE run of journalists il
London have pretty hard time; there are 81
many amateurs of good education and bal
leisure who are willing to do special worl
and articles for the mere pleasure Of seeinI
their copy in type, while on the other ham
there is an eminent superabundance of tn
ordinary reporter who, by the way. is a YER,
inferior animal to his American comrade"
he told me how Truth had been success
and paid from the first number. Henry La
bouchere, Esq, was pretty well known anon
the literary fraternity before it was pub
lished, and when it was announced that be
who stood somewhere between Bob Ingersoll
Dave Hill and Tom Ochiltree, intended no
TO tell lies any more, there was unanimou
and tremendous howl of derision over tn
length and breadth Of the land. So they mad
jokes about him and his truthful organ, al
Of which duly advertised the paper, so tina
folks bought it out Of curiosity, and for
long time decent Philistines studied its pages
but only behind locked doors Even toda
there are plenty of Pharisees and Sadducee
who wouldn't touch the paper with pair Q
tongs or say SO until their dearest foe gets
slashing.
Mr. Labouchere is pretty much of law {
himself As such he has managed to make
good deal of moving in the ways Of til
world he has mended many small mischief
in social life; be has been grand guerrill
in advance Of Gen Gladstone; he has create
. new school of journalism, and his infinenc
will be more lasting than even his most al
dent admirers can conceive-London Cot
New York Mail and Express.
Grief Too Great for Utterance.
Professor Clayton tells of thrilling e,
perience. At Ruby City, while looking owe
q claim to determine the most favorabl
Y,laca 70 prosyaot for a Hind iad,ro nm axta,